Update on Belgium

On Monday night (Aug. 26) Belgium’s Minister of Health and the Environment, Magda Aelvoet, resigned from her post in government.

Contrary to some reports, it had nothing to do at all with the fluoride ban, but because Belgium’s government had arranged for the sale of thousands of guns to Nepal. The controversial arms deal was made public by Foreign Minister Louis Michel on the Friday before (Aug. 23).

This arms deal has prompted a fierce public debate in Belgium and revived communal tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the Francophone community of Wallonia.

Numerous leaders from the Flemish community have said the arms deal is illegal, as Belgium law forbids arms sales to countries engaged in a civil war.

When it became known that Germany had earlier refused permission for an arms deal with Nepal, Aelvoet resigned, stating the sale was “incompatible with her personal convictions.”

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Minister Michel both have voiced their regret at the resignation.

Jef Tavernier is the new Health Minister as appointed by the Agalev party. He said the party will not agree to the arms deal unless Nepal will give “humanitarian guarantees”. Parliament will debate the issue tomorrow (Thursday).

The resignation by Magda Aelvoet will have no effect upon the fluoride ban. This is now a “done deal”, and so we were told by the Health Ministry in Belgium this morning. The Ministry remains committed to the issue.

A great big “Thank You” to all who wrote in support of the actions taken by the Ministry of Health in Belgium. The ministry has received letters from all over the world. We have been assured that all letters were read.

IS FLUORIDATED SALT INCLUDED IN THE BAN?

FACT: Yes, it is. This was verified by the Ministry. This issue has openend a whole new can of worms. Apparently, fluoridated salt is available in Belgium, but not always labelled as such. We are trying to get more information. Regarding water fluoridation – yes, if water were fluoridated, this practice would also be prohibited.

OTHER PFPC NEWS:

Our webmaster informs us that we now log over a quarter of a million hits monthly on our websites, the average being 10,000 hits a day. Great news indeed!